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English trio win through in Nantes first round with Nick Wall now up against top seed Marwan ElShorbagy
Open de France moves to a graffiti-covered warehouse as street grime meets world squash
By JAMES ROBERTS (Squash Mad Correspondent)
The English trio of Declan James, Nick Wall and Charlie Lee all won through on the opening day of the Open de Squash de France in Nantes, with Wall now facing top seed Marwan ElShorbagy in today’s second round at Hangar 45.
Playing best of three scoring, Wall and Lee both caused first round upsets at La Maison du Squash, getting the better of Egypt’s Yahya Elnawasany and Spaniard Bernat Jaume, respectively.
Lee had to fight his way through a tough match against Jaume, winning 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 in 45 minutes and his reward is a second round tie against No.3 seed Saurav Ghosal of France.
Lee said: “Sometimes you’ve got to realise that the hard work will end up paying, although you lose the game. I’m still relatively inexperienced on the World Tour with my time out, but I’m learning every day. And these matches are exactly what you need, especially with a different pressure with a best-of-three.
“I was really happy to win the first, having that mental advantage, and then normally, you relax a little bit, not fully, but a bit more aggressive because they have to take the next game. And although I lost the second game, and then it’s a shoot out, I came out quite well in the third game. That’s when my best squash came up.”
Wall was the victor over World No.44 Elnawasany, taking two tight games 11-7, 11-9 to set up a clash with top seed ElShorbagy today.
Wall explained: “It was my first tournament playing best-of-three, so that was interesting, I think it suits me because I like to play quite explosively, also, putting pressure on with longer rallies. First match of the season as well for me, you don’t know really where your level is. I tried to find my foundation and basics.
“Tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough one against Marwan obviously, but the pressure is off a little bit more. Hopefully, I can let my arm go and really try and take it to him, and see what I can do.”
James, the 2018 Nantes champion, came into this event off the back of a confidence-building run in Doha, and beat wild card Benjamin Aubert 12-10, 11-5 in 26 minutes.
He needed to dig deep in the first game, after being 10-7 down. He won five straight points to win it 12-10, before then a quick start in the second game saw him cruise to victory.
James’s response was: “Relieved! The first game was a little bit tense, I made five errors which you just can’t do at this level. You can’t give anyone a five point lead and then I found myself at 10-7 down.
“When you’ve got the confidence and the momentum, you can get yourself out of those situations, and I think that is what happened there. I am feeling good and I got myself out of trouble, and then the second was more straightforward. I put a big push at the start of that one, so I am happy to get off 2-0.”
With the glass court venue a closely guarded secret, the location turned out to be a graffiti-covered warehouse on the banks of the River Loire.
With the IOC becoming increasingly keen on urban activities, this was a smart and brave move and in contrast to some luxurious earlier venues.
France’s Auguste Dussourd delighted the home crowd in Hangar 45 with a straight games victory over Scotland’s Rory Stewart, and he will now face compatriot and No.2 seed Gregoire Marche in the last 16 of the Bronze level competition.
Stewart did most of the early running and led 6-2 in the first game, but a quick run of points saw Dussourd fight his way back into it, and he would eventually go on to take it on a tie-break. He carried the momentum through into the second, dropping just five points, to take a straight games victory and set up a clash with compatriot Gregoire Marche on Tuesday evening.
Dussourd said: “He is a really tricky player. You never know what to expect from him. He has so many shots, he changes the pace all the time and it is really difficult to play against him, even more so in the best-of-three.
“I saw earlier that so many matches were so close. I knew I had to take the first game, even on a tiebreak, and I knew it would be hard. When you are 1-0 down and you have to win two games, it is so hard, so I am happy to come through this match!
“I had the chance to play here once, in the theatre in Nantes. I lost 3-0 to Gregoire [Marche], the same player I will face tomorrow! It is always amazing to play in France, and in such an amazing venue like this!”
In the first match on the glass court, Egypt’s 18-year-old Salma Eltayeb came through a thrilling three-game battle with compatriot Kenzy Ayman to win an astonishing and decisive tiebreak to take the match 8-11, 11-9, 21-19 in 52 minutes.
It was an amazing way to start the tournament inside this exciting new venue and a delighted Eltayeb, having saved numerous match balls, said said: “We just played two weeks ago and Kenzy has always been beating me in Egypt, but here and at the World Champs, I have beaten her! It is never an easy game with her!
“It is so different playing here, because you are with so many good players, so you want to perform to be at their level. That is what I am aiming for, that is my mission as I finish my junior career, to be there, or to compete against the top players on the PSA World Tour.”
England’s former World No.20 Millie Tomlinson beat German No.1 Saskia Beinhard 12-10, 11-7 to clinch her spot in the next round, where she faces Canada’s Nicole Bunyan.
Tomlinson said: “I’m honestly just super happy to be here especially having Nantes as my first tournament, it’s nice – a lovely city. Really happy to play in the event. Now, physically I’m fine but happy it’s best-of-three!”
The evening concluded with a tribute to French legend Gregory Gaultier. It took the form of an exhibition doubles match with Gaultier and young French player Baptiste Bouin against England’s Nick Matthew and Daryl Selby.
In 2017, 13-year-old Bouin was a court cleaner at the event. Tonight he starred alongside “The General” as all four players entertained a packed crowd.
The second day of the Open de France de Squash will see the seeded players take to the court at both La Maison du Squash and Hangar 24 in Nantes today. The action will begin at 12 noon local time (GMT+2) and all the action will be live on SQUASHTV.
Open de France de Squash, Nantes, France.
Men’s First Round:
Nick Wall (ENG) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 2-0: 11-7, 11-9 (26m)
Declan James (ENG) bt [WC] Benjamin Aubert (FRA) 2-0: 12-10, 11-5 (26m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 2-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 (41m)
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 2-1: 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 (45m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (FRA) bt Mazen Gamal (FRA) 2-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-2 (41m)
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [WC] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 10-12, 12-10 (46m)
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-3, 10-12, 11-6 (47m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt Rory Stewart (SCO) 2-0: 13-11, 11-5 (36m)
Men’s Second Round (Tuesday, September 13):
[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Nick Wall (ENG)
Declan James (ENG) v [7] Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[6] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v Lucas Serme (FRA)
Charlie Lee (ENG) v [3] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[4] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) v [5] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[8] George Parker (ENG) v Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [2] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Women’s First Round:
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [WC] Ana Munos (FRA) 2-0: 11-3, 11-6 (12m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 2-0: 12-10, 11-7 (27m)
Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 2-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 (25m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Julianne Courtice (ENG) 2-0: 12-10, 11-5 (17m)
Cristina Gomez (ESP) bt [WC] Elisa Romba (FRA) 2-0: 11-1, 11-7 (18m)
Nardine Garas (EGY): Walkover
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 2-1: 8-11, 11-9, 21-19 (52m)
Marie Stephan (FRA) bt Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 2-0: 11-4, 11-4 (14m)
Women’s Second Round (Tuesday, September 13):
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Satomi Watanabe (JPN)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [7] Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
[6] Enora Villard (FRA) v Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [4] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Cristina Gomez (ESP)
Nardine Garas (EGY) v [5] Lucy Turmel (ENG)
[8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) v Salma Eltayeb (EGY)
Marie Stephan (FRA) v [1] Nele Gilis (BEL)
Pictures courtesy of PSA World Tour
Worcester Warriors: Sixways staff are told by owners that club is close to being sold
Worcester Warriors officials have reportedly told staff that a buyer has been found for the Premiership club.
Players, staff and fans have endured a month of worry that Warriors might fold after a winding-up petition from HMRC over an unpaid £6m tax bill.
But staff have now been told that a sale has been agreed and, subject to legal confirmation, may happen quickly.
The new buyers will also provide an immediate cash impetus to ensure any shortfall in wages are met.
That will ensure this weekend's first home Premiership game of the season against Exeter can go ahead this Sunday.
Warriors staff were told on Monday evening by managing director Peter Kelly that co-owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring should have had legal confirmation by Tuesday - and that a deal could be done inside the next 24 hours.
After fears that they might not even start the season, Warriors began the new campaign with a 45-14 defeat at London Irish on Saturday.
The were wearing last season's strip, as although this season's has been ordered and is ready, it has not yet been paid for.
They also used a coach to travel to the game, the bill for which was footed by one of the club's main sponsors, Adam Hewitt.
Warriors, whose winding-up court appearance to face HMRC has reportedly been set for 6 October, also have to pay back £14m worth of Sports Survival Package money, as sanctioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport during the Covid pandemic.
In total, their debts are reported to total £25m. But the deal with the as yet unnamed "interested party" would, subject to Rugby Football Union approval, secure their status both in the short-term, enabling debts to catering staff, stewards and suppliers to be paid, and long-term.
Co-owners Whittingham and Goldring have been under pressure to put the club into administration - both from a deputation of local MPs and a consortium led by former Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole, who made that a key stipulation of any sale.
But, in an exclusive interview with BBC Hereford & Worcester last week, Whittingham referred to people "jumping up and down making a lot of noise", while making the point that, if the club do go into administration, creditors - including many local ones - would end up not getting paid.
He also explained that one of the reasons why the money transfer to staff for their August wage payments had taken so long were simply down to the automated bank security procedures that have become commonplace for both private and business account holders in recent years.
Analysis - 'Some transparency still needed'
Trevor Owens, BBC Hereford & Worcester sports editor
There has been no official comment from the club as yet, but it is said that broad agreement has been reached on the sale of the Warriors and lawyers have been working through the details.
Assuming all goes according to plan, it's claimed the new owners would then deposit funds into the Warriors account.
That would cover outstanding wages and would also ensure Sunday's Premiership home match against Exeter Chiefs would go ahead.
On the face of it, this is good news but, as always, the devil's in the detail and staff and fans will want transparency on just who the new owners might be."
How Warriors has changed hands
Worcester began their journey to try to become a force in English club rugby when local millionaire boiler manufacturer Cecil Duckworth got involved in 1997.
He injected the funds which led to a first promotion to the Premiership under coach John Brain in 2004.
But Warriors have never really kicked on from there, have twice been relegated - and have never finished higher than eighth in their 16 years in the top flight.
In that time, Exeter, a club of a similar stature, have won the Premiership twice and conquered Europe.
Long-time benefactor Duckworth reduced his involvement in 2013, when Sixways Holdings Limited took over, under Greg Allen.
Duckworth remained part of the new board as club president, until his death in 2020.
By then, the club had been sold again, to a four-man consortium fronted by Jed McCrory in October 2018, but he left in June 2019,, leaving Whittingham and Goldring at the helm.
Wales change seven for World Cup warm-up against England
Wales have made seven starting changes for their final World Cup warm-up Test against England.
Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips and Cerys Hale form a new front row after the 31-3 defeat by Canada last month.
Alisha Butchers and Alex Callender come into the back row, while Gwen Crabb joins Natalia John at lock.
Niamh Terry gets a run out at full-back as Ioan Cunningham takes a final look at players before naming the 32-player squad that will travel to New Zealand.
Last month's debutants Carys Williams-Morris and Lowri Norkett retain their places in the backs along with Jasmine Joyce, while Hannah Jones once again leads the side with regular skipper Siwan Lillicrap named among the replacements.
Elinor Snowsill and Ffion Lewis retain their partnership in the half-backs.
England have made 12 changes to the side that beat USA 52-14 earlier this month, and should they win, Simon Middleton's side will become the first team to win 25 consecutive Tests.
Wales head coach Cunningham said facing the world's number one team is ideal preparation.
"Following a big two months of preparation and a tough training and match week in Canada, this is exactly the kind of challenge we need ahead of our Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in October," he said.
"We will be playing in front of a big crowd and giving some players opportunities to transfer their excellent work in training to a playing environment.
"It will be the last chance for some players to put their hands up for inclusion in the squad. We are discussing the squad daily and we are not far off, but there are probably still four or five places up for grabs."
England will announce their World Cup squad on 20 September, while Wales' will be unveiled the following day.
England: Kildunne; Thompson, Scarratt, Rowland, McKenna; Harrison, L Packer; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt)
Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Talling, P Cleall, MacDonald, Reed, Aitchison.
Wales: Terry; Norkett, Williams-Morris, H Jones (capt), Joyce; Snowsill, F Lewis; Pyrs, Phillips, Hale, John, Crabb, Butchers, Callender, Harries
Replacements: K Jones, Thomas, Tuipulotu, Lillicrap, B Lewis, Bevan, George, Webb.
Suzuki, 23, the youngest captain in Habs' history
Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki, 23, became the youngest captain in team history on Monday.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced the appointment, saying the decision was made by the club's hockey management personnel. An alternate captain last season, Suzuki will succeed defenseman Shea Weber, who served as captain between 2018 and 2022, though he did not play last season due to injury.
Veteran defenseman Joel Edmundson and forward Brendan Gallagher will occupy Montreal's alternate captain slots.
Suzuki will begin his fourth NHL season next month and will do so on the first year of an eight-year contract extension signed last October. He will most likely occupy the center slot on Montreal's top line as the Canadiens continue their rebuild.
"He's the heartbeat of our team," Gallagher said. "He's fully ready for this opportunity."
Suzuki made his NHL debut in 2019-20 and was named to the league's All-Rookie team. He has 49 goals and 143 points in 209 career games, and helped the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
An Ontario native, Suzuki was a first-round selection of Las Vegas in 2017, before being dealt to Montreal in a trade that sent former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights.
Report: Sergio Garcia facing fine for withdrawing from BMW PGA unless he gives legit reason
Sergio Garcia's withdrawal from the BMW PGA Championship has him in trouble, according to Telegraph Sport.
The 42-year-old Spaniard is facing a fine by the DP World Tour if he doesn't provide proof of an emergency or medical issue for withdrawing from the tour's flagship event.
The DP World Tour rules handbook states a player may only WD for "emergency reasons or medical circumstances deemed reasonable by the tournament director."
Following a first-round 76, Garcia, a regular in LIV Golf, withdrew from the event after it was suspended — and later reduced to 54 holes — due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Garcia then flew across the Atlantic and attended the Texas-Alabama football game Saturday in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Angela Akins Garcia.
An anonymous high-profile player told The Telegraph, "However, you look at it, this is two fingers up from Garcia to the tour. He came to Wentworth saying he wanted to ‘support the Tour,’ but was obviously annoyed at what [DP World Tour CEO] Keith Pelley said."
In a press conference on Wednesday ahead of the BMW PGA, Pelley referenced one of Garcia's past comments by saying, "Can we please just stop the feeder tour nonsense once and for all? And as to the point of heading towards being the world's fifth tour, one of our members who is playing here this week actually said that. It's unbelievable."
As of Monday, Garcia's management company has not provided a reason for his withdrawal. Wentworth HQ confirmed to Telegraph Sport that a reason must be provided in the next three weeks or Garcia will be fined. Garcia's agent didn't reply to any calls or messages from Telegraph Sport.
Garcia is slated to play in LIV Golf's event in Chicago this week.
Madrid turn €13m profit despite COVID challenges
Real Madrid have announced that they made a €13 million profit in 2021-22, meaning the club avoided making a loss in each of the three seasons following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madrid enjoyed a successful campaign on the field last season, winning the Champions League for the fifth time in eight years as well as the LaLiga title.
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The club estimates that it was hit by a drop in income of around €400 million as a result of the pandemic, with games being played behind closed doors from June 2020 until May 2021.
In a statement on Monday, Madrid said that their income had risen from €653 million in 2020-21 to €722 million in 2021-22 -- a 10% increase -- as the impact of coronavirus continued to diminish, although that figure remains below pre-pandemic levels.
The club's matchday revenue at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium has also been hit by major redevelopment work, due to be completed next year, which has seen its capacity reduced.
The financial result after tax for 2021-22 was a profit of €12.9 million, an increase from the €874,000 profit the club posted in 2020-21.
Madrid's cash position now stands at €425 million, thanks in large part to a €360 million investment from the U.S. firm Sixth Street announced in May this year.
That figure does not include the costs of the stadium redevelopment, which is being paid for by an €800 million loan agreement with JP Morgan and Bank of America.
The club's accounts for 2021-22 will be put to a members' vote for approval in a general assembly on Oct. 2.
Madrid, who are currently top of LaLiga after winning all five of their league games so far this season, will host RB Leipzig on Wednesday in Champions League group F.
Captaincy takes Amy Jones right out of her comfort zone
"It's definitely not something I've been gunning for quietly for a while at all," grinned Jones on the eve of Tuesday's second T20I against India in Derby. "But when I was having chats with Nat, sort of getting an inkling that she might go home, we did have a conversation where we were like, 'this could be you, Amy,' and it was very daunting.
"I'd say on the pitch, definitely not something that comes naturally to me. I like to lead off the pitch in my own way, how I go about things, but when it comes to being vocal and speaking in front of the group or management of the game, all of this is all pretty new to me."
But, after leading England to a resounding nine-wicket win in the first match on a damp evening in Durham on Saturday, Jones - the wicketkeeper-batter who is set to make her 150th appearance for England in Thursday's third fixture in Bristol - admitted she rather enjoyed herself.
"One of the most pleasing things about the other night was just how everyone came together," she said. "They know it's not natural for me, but everyone's been really supportive and just helped whenever they can. So it was, yeah, I'd go as far to say I enjoyed it, actually."
"She's one of my closest friends as well as a team-mate," Jones said. "The first couple of days in Durham, she obviously wasn't herself.
"So when she did, with the help of our support staff, decide that she shouldn't be there, I think it was almost a relief for me as a friend to know that she was going to go back home and get herself right before she joins back up with us, so definitely the right decision for her and everyone's right behind her."
"She was being really reassuring, she said I'd do a great job," Jones said of Sciver. "And Katherine has also messaged me as well and they've been very supportive. It felt like they thought I was the right person, which definitely gave me a bit of confidence."
Jones captained Birmingham Phoenix through the inaugural season of the Hundred last year before the arrival of Sophie Devine, the New Zealand skipper, at the franchise this year.
"For me, it was daunting, purely because I did a year at the Hundred obviously and nothing either side of that, so it's just the unknown really," Jones said. "That's what I was stressing about the most leading up to the game.
"It's obviously a lot of responsibility and with a young side... I wasn't sure if some of the bowlers would need more help than they did, but everyone just really stepped up, knew their game, and it was a lot simpler than I thought."
In the absence of three senior players, Jones was hugely impressed with her side's performance on Saturday, particularly leg-spinner Sarah Glenn, who took a career-best 4 for 23, including three of India's top four in Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha and Harmanpreet Kaur.
"Leading into this, missing three key players for us, it would have been easy for us to sort of go into our shell in that first game with a bit less confidence," Jones said. "It just really felt like everyone came together and stood up in a time where we could have gone the other way, so that was really pleasing.
"It was definitely a challenge. I was very nervous. I think for the couple days leading up to it, it was a lot of thinking and it's quite hard to switch off. But now, having played the first one, I can relax a bit more and know that we can get through a game and with the girls helping you it just made it so much easier."
Alice Davidson-Richards was called into the England squad for the remainder of the T20I series as cover for allrounder Sciver. The squad - and captain - for the ODIs starting on Sunday at Hove is yet to be named.
"I'm not sure I'd be throwing my hat in the ring," Jones said. "I think fifty overs is a whole other ball game. But, in saying that, obviously if they think I'm the right person for it then it's something I would never turn down.
"I'm happy just to focus on the T20s now. As always, I would never turned down an opportunity like that, but I'm definitely doing just a little stand-in."
Valkerie Baynes is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo
World No. 1 Ecclestone signs with Sydney Sixers
Ranked No.1 in the world in both the one-day and T20 formats, Ecclestone confirmed on Tuesday she will play in the WBBL for the first time this summer.
In doing so, the 23-year-old will play under former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who will coach the Sixers for the first time this season.
Meanwhile Capsey, 18, enjoyed a breakout tournament in last season's Hundred and made her England debut this season against South Africa before featuring in the Commonwealth Games. She is Stars' second overseas signing after India's Jemimah Rodrigues.
Ecclestone, one of the most accurate and consistent spinners in world cricket, has a good record in Australia in averaging 14 with the ball and going at less than six an over.
She previously toyed with the idea of playing in the WBBL in 2020, offered a contract by the Perth Scorchers before knocking it back due to extended time spent in biosecurity bubbles.
"It's been a long time coming," Ecclestone said. "I've been meaning to go for a few years now. I'm so excited that, this year, it's worked out well and I can get over there. I've seen a lot of it. A few of the England girls have been over in the past and they've loved the competition."
The headline team of the early years of the WBBL, the Sixers have missed the finals in each of the past three seasons and last year collected the wooden spoon.
Edwards has taken over from foundation coach Ben Sawyer on his move to a full-time assistant role in the Australian set up.
Ecclestone is so far her first overseas signing, with two further spots still available for international players before their tournament opener on October 13.
Local stars Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner remain as part of the Sixers' roster.
Natasha McLean, Sheneta Grimmond return to West Indies squad for New Zealand ODIs
Grimmond last played for West Indies in Pakistan in November last year, whereas McLean's last international game was a T20I in September 2020, and her last ODI was in November 2019. McLean has the experience of 30 ODIs to her name and Grimmond has seven.
"The New Zealand series is very important on the women's cricket landscape not only because it starts a new cycle, but also because it is part of the preparation leading towards the T20 World Cup in South Africa," lead selector for women's cricket Ann Browne-John said. "With a few senior players unavailable at this time, for different reasons, like the experienced Anisa Mohammed, Kycia Knight and recently retired Deandra Dottin, the selectors were still able to get a blend of senior and developing players including Under-19 player Jannillea Glasgow and returning players Natasha McLean and Sheneta Grimmond. Ultimately, we believe that captain Hayley Matthews, in her first series, will have a promising squad of players to start building with."
CWI said a match-day squad of 13 players will be selected ahead of each ODI. The ODIs will be followed by five T20Is from September 25 to October 6, which will also be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The ODIs will be part of the new Women's Championship cycle in which both West Indies and New Zealand are yet to play a game.
ODI squad Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean (wk), Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams
Boucher disappointed with South Africa batters after a 'missed opportunity' in England
"I'm disappointed because it's a missed opportunity," he said. "We played some very good cricket but then we let ourselves down. We just didn't put the runs on the board so we never quite knew how we could test England. We believed we had the bowlers to be able to take 20 wickets, but you've got to score runs."
But as much as Boucher was less than satisfied with his batters, he could not bring himself to lay the blame entirely on them, instead distributing it between the opposition's bowling, English conditions and lack of experience.
"I'm disappointed but understanding that our guys didn't go out and try to play maverick cricket. We tried really hard. I could see it yesterday [day four of the Oval Test when South Africa worked their way to 83 for 1, but they went on to lose 9 for 86]. The guys got tested and fell short technically, but also because of good bowling. We knew England had a good attack and we were going to be tested. Unfortunately, we couldn't stand up to it.
"We always knew we were going to be under pressure if the conditions went around a bit. In South Africa, the conditions are not the same. That ball doesn't swing, the contact points are different, and these batters who are here have been consistently the best batters in our country. If you have a look at the last top seven who came to England and won the series [in 2012], between them there were 470-odd Test matches. With 10 of our batters who batted in the top seven in this series, we're on about 170. There's a big difference. The only way you get experience is to go out there and play."
And that's where South Africa have it tough. They only have one more three-Test series in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, against Australia over the festive period, and will then play two-Test series until hosting England in 2026. Like captain Dean Elgar, who routinely laments the lack of Test cricket, Boucher also made the case for more games, albeit that the next Future Tours Programme (2023-2027) is decided and there is very little wiggle room.
"It's a fine line as a coach because a guy comes in and you don't want to change him. This is not an academy of learning. This is Test cricket"
Mark Boucher, South Africa coach
"To lose sight of Test cricket and lose games is not great," Boucher said. "I'm a purist. I love Test cricket to bits. It's the purest form of the game and one that we really need to look after. The heads in the game need to get together and find a way to play more Test cricket," he said. "And it's exciting, especially with the way the games are being played now. It's very seldom that you have draws. The game's moved forward, maybe because of T20 cricket. Guys are playing shots they would never usually play. It's attacking and it's a nice game to watch at the moment. So the more we see it, the better it will be for everyone."
That may also be part of South Africa's problem. While their Test batters cannot be accused of playing an overly aggressive T20 style, they could be criticised for a lack of innovation which leads to limited scoring options and a tentative approach to scoring. While Boucher and batting coach Justin Sammons have transformed South Africa's limited-overs approach which sees players bring out more reverse sweeps and paddles than before, they have been unable to do the same with the Test line-up, and that may be because they are more stoic batters by nature, especially when compared with a team like England.
"We give the guys freedom to play and to express themselves," Boucher added. "The way that England would like to go out and play, you need to have the characters to do that, first of all. A lot of their guys are good white-ball cricketers as well. You have to, in these conditions, trust your defence. We haven't been able to keep out their good balls. It's one thing to say to guys to go out there and play with freedom, but there are consequences when guys are fighting for their Test spots and fighting for their careers. As much as a coach can say play with freedom, within your blueprint we want you to be nice and aggressive, we want you to play a good, attacking style of cricket, it's up to the individual and the character that comes with that; who trusts his defence and goes out and tries to dominate an attack."
Boucher was also wary of trying to do too much with the Test batters, who should have already developed a way of playing that only needs some fine-tuning once they get to the international stage. "It's a fine line as a coach because a guy comes in and you don't want to change him. This is not an academy of learning. This is Test cricket," Boucher said. "You don't want to change him too much because you also don't want to give them the option of saying, 'I came in here playing my way, and I've gone into Test cricket and you've tried to change me. Maybe I should have just been myself.' That's the fine line. As a coach you've maybe got to go back to the drawing board and say 'let's have a look at you playing in all these different conditions and experiencing all of this, and hopefully, try and get it right the next time you come back here'."
"We were forced into a position in this game where we had to give opportunities to other guys. You can't keep going with the same guys and they keep failing," Boucher said. "Sometimes it gets into their heads, and you can see guys really trying hard but it's like sinking sand - the harder they try, the further, the deeper they fall in."
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
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